Building construction



Ma 12, 1942. J. SCHURMAN. 2,282,829

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 23, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 If 1 1 I 4 INVENTOR 70%275c&z0w24)z ATTORNEY J. SCHURMAN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION May 12, 1942.

Filed June 23, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 E INVENTOR $527 jcfizznwdzz.

ATTORNEY j y 2- J. SCHURMAN 2,282,829

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 23, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR 75 J 0%7? jc/zzzrlri fl.

75 75 I ATTORNEY May 12, 1942. J. SCHURMAN 2,282,329

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 25, 1941 a Sheets-Sheet 4 y 12, J. SCHURMAN 2,282,829

\ BUILDING CONSTRUCTION File d June 23, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 i .i E.

May 12, 1942. J. SCHURMAN 2,232,829

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 23, 1941 e sheets-sheets 4 .7 I INVENTOR Patented May 12, 194-2 BUILDING CON STRUCT ION John Schurman,

Highland Park, 'Mich assignor to Albert Kahn, Inc., a corporation of Michig an Application June 23, 194-1, Serial No. 399,267

15 Claims.

structed over both large and small areas andare supported on suitable girts spaced four to eight feet apart extending transversely between columns generally spaced sixteen to twenty-four feet apart. Light structural angles generally called Gunite angles are often carried by and span vertically between the girts. After the structural framework to support a Gunite wall is erected, a mesh reinforcement is preferably stretched therebetween and Wired thereto. A suitable form is erected at the rear of the structural framework which defines the rear or inside surface of the Gunite wall. A dry mixture of cement and sand or fine aggregate is placed ina cement gun andis forced out of the gun through a nozzled hose by compressed air. The mixture of cement and sand or fine aggregate is hydrated at the nozzle employed at the end of the hose and the properly mixed and hydrated cementitious mixture is applied under the force of air pressure through the hose and nozzle to the wall. The impact of the hydrated cementitious mixture against the form expels the air and superfluous moisture therefrom and produces a dense thin wall of considerable strength. Because of using a cement gun, such construction has become to be known as Gunite. While walls of any desired or practical thickness may be placed by the Gunite method, in industrial building construction Gunite walls of 1 to 2 in thickness have been generally employed. After the Gunite walls are placed and allowed to set a reasonable length of time, preferably at least twenty-four hours, the forms on the rear or inside surface thereof are removed.

Such prior art construction, while less expensive than brick walls, still is'considered costly in view of the fact that Gunite walls crack because of shrinkage, alternate expansion and contraction, and as a result of settlement of the structural supporting frame. Once a Gunite wall cracks, repairs thereto are unsightly and, in climates where freezing temperatures are encountered, alternate freezing and thawing of moisture which collects in cracks in Gunite walls causes the spalling ofi of portions of the wall adjacent to the cracks.

metal, and asbestos-cement corrugated and plain sheets have been used for building siding; however, walls constructed of lapped sheets are inferior to solid wall construction, because of the fact that the joints therebetween leak air and the thermal resistance of such sheets employed in wall construction is very low.

Many attempts have been made to provide a satisfactory and improved precast or preformed unit or panel contsruction for the walls of industrial buildings, and, heretofore, the usual approach to the problem has been to provide precast or preformed wall units including therewith some type of positive anchorage or joining means for securing them in place, to each other and t0 the supporting structure. The prior art joining means for securing precast elements for wall construction solidly to each other and to the supporting elements prevents relatively free movement between the wall units and between the wall units and their supporting structure whereby to cause cracking and spalling as in monolithic construction such as Gunite walls.

In some instances large structurally sufficient precast wall units spanning between widely separated supports serving as walls, spandrels and parapets have been employed; however, because of their size and weight, they are difficult to handle and require heavy equipment for erection.

Corrugated iron, asbestos covered corrugated 55 Large structurally sufficient cementitious wall units warp easily, crack and craze readily, and, as a result, they are subject to spalling in climates where structures are subject to alternate freezing and thawing.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide precast or preformed unit wall construction wherein the wall units are secured to their supporting members in such a manner as to hold the wall units with sufficient firmness to alleviate their tendency to warp and yet permit movement between the said wall units and with respect to their supporting members, wherein the wall units are provided with a flexible joint therearound which will permit substantially universal movement of the wall units with respect to each other, and wherein means are employed to make and maintain the said'joint therebetween weather and waterproof permanently under all reasonable conditions of expansion, contraction and settlement of the structure enclosed by said wall construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a permanent and weatherproof unit wall construction having the units thereof slidably connected to supporting framework and employing between said wall units a permanently weatherproof joint which admits of universal movement of any unit with respect to its adjacent unit during expansion, contraction and settlement of the supporting structure and warping of the wall units per se.

Another object of the invention is to provide the combination of a weatherproof wall construction employing means for securing the individual wall units to their supporting structure in such a manner that will permit expansion, contraction and settlement of the supporting structure without breakage or cracking of the wall units employed and a weatherproof expansion and contraction joint between the wall units which will admit of universal movement of any wall unit with respect to the wall units therearound without opening up the, joints therebetween.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easily erected unit wall construction and flexible joints between the units thereof which are readily, positively and permanently made weatherproof and waterproof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universally movable joint between wall units which employs resilient and mastic joint means in combination to admit of universal movement between wall units while maintaining a condition of weatherproofness and waterproofness at said joints.

Another object of the invention is to provide precast or preformed unit wall construction including a combined resilient strip and mastic joint between the units thereof wherein less than suflicient mastic is used to fill up the joint, which combined resilient strip and mastic joint will not leak mastic when the wall units are urged together by expansion or by setlement of the supporting structure or when one wall unit warps out of line with respect to the others.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with precast or preformed wall units and means for connecting the same to a supporting framework which permits movement between said wall units and between said wall units and a supporting structure, a resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint means which retains the mastic therein under all conditions whereby to prevent the usual deficiency in joint filler which occurs after repeated opening and closing of the joint under conditions of contraction and expansion.

Another object of the invention is to provide combined anchorage and jointmeans between wall units and their supporting structural members which maintains freedom of movement between the wall units whereby to prevent cracking, spalling or breakage of the wall units during expansion, contraction or setlement of the supporting structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide precast or preformed unit wall construction of the type secured to suitably spaced supporting members wherein the joints between wall units are completely flexible to permit each wall unit to move in any direction with respect to adjacent wall units responsive to expansion, contraction and settlement of the structure and thereby distribute the efiect of expansion, contraction and settlement of the supportingstructure among numerous joints between wall units rather than permit the accumulation of the effect of exp ansion,-contraction and settlement of the supporting structure to a relatively few joints located relatively great distances apart.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompan'ying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an enlarged vertical sectional view of unit wall construction embodying the invention taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of an industrial building employing unit wall construc. tion embodying the invention.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view part in end elevation and part in cross section showing a wall unit embodying the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing a sheet metal anchorage of this type placeable in the joints between wall units.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective showing a cast metal anchorage of the type placeable in the joint between the wall units. 7

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view of the resilient metal joint strip preferably employed with the particular type of wall unit construction described in Figs. 1 to 20 inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through a preferred form of joint embodying the invention wherein the wall units are shown in alignment and urged close together.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig, 8 except that the joint is shown with one wall unit warped out of alignment with respect to the other.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 8 except that the joint is shown with the wall units considerably separated with respect to each other.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a wall unit buttered in its peripheral joint groove with mastic and ready to receive a resilient joint strip.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view through a typical joint showing two Wall units with their opposite joint grooves buttered, with a resilient joint strip disposed therebetween, and with an anchorage means positioned in the joint grooves thereof, one wall unit being urged into juxtaposition with respect to the other.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view indicating how horizontal resilient joint strips may be coped to vertical joint strips at intersections therebetween.

Fig. 14 is a detailed sectional view taken through a typical horizontal joint between wall units adjacent to the vertical structural wall framing wherein the anchorage means is positioned in the joint grooves of the wall units and resiliently and slidably connects the wall units to the structural framing.

Fig. 15 is a detailed sectional view taken through a typical horizontal joint between wall units adjacent vertical structural wall framing wherein anchorage means spaced from the joint engaging inserts in the corners of the wall units are employed to'resiliently and slidably connect the wall units to the structural framing provided therefor.

Fig. 16 is a view in perspective showing a typical joint between four wall units at girt framing employing anchorage means disposed in the vertical joints.

Fig. 17 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of unit wall construction embodying the invention taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 18 showing the employment of inserts at the corners ofwall units and resilient anchorage means for slidably securing the wall units to wall framing independent of the joints between units.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary elevational View of an industrial building employing unit wall construction embodying the invention and employing means-for resiliently and slidably anchoring the wall units to wall framing independent of the joint between said wall units.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detailed elevational view of the insert and stud which maybe employed at the corners of each wall unit as shown in Figs. 15, 17, 18 and 20 rather than the anchorages disposed in the joints as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 12, 14 and 16.

Fig. 20 is 'a view in perspective showing a typical joint between four wall units at girt framing-employing anchorage means disposed-at each corner of each wall unit.

Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 are each sectional views similar to Fig. 8 showing alternate details of joint grooves and resilient metal joint strips which may be substituted for the joint grooves and resilient metal joint strips disclosed in Figs. 4, 7 and 8. a

Fig. 23 shows a metal wall unit which may be substituted for the precast concrete wall units disclosed in Figs. 4, 8, 21 and 22.

Figs. 24, 25 and 26 are sectional views similar to Figs. 8, 21 and 22 showing typical joints embodying the invention between preformed steel wall units which may be substituted for the precast concrete wall units shown in Figs. 8, 21 and 22.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 20 inclusive comprises, in general, a plurality of precast cementitious wall units 36, 3! and 32 and corner wall units 33, 34 and 35 of suitable length to span between structural framing generally designated by the numeral 36,- a completely flexible combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 31 between said units, and anchorage means 38 disposed in the said joint 31 or anchorage means 39 disposed at the corners of the wall units 30, 3| and 32 and at the corners of the corner units 33, 34 and 35, all as hereinafter more fully described in detail.

In the typical illustrative installation of unit wall construction disclosed in Figs. '1, 2 and 3, the structural framing generally designated by the numeral 36 comprises columns 53, eave struts or beams 4|, purlins 42 and girts 43. The lower course of wall units 32 and 35 rests on the foundation .4 and the wall units 32 and 35 are secured near the bottom thereof to a sill angle 45 by means of joint disposed anchors 38. The top of the said lower course of wall units 32 and 35 are secured to a girt 43 by means of anchors 38 'disposed in the joints 3! between the said wall units. Succeeding courses of wall units 36 and 33, 3| and 34, and 36, and 33 are superimposed end to end over each other and anchored at their tops and bottoms to girts 43 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 by means of anchors 38 disposed in joints 3! between the said wall units. The upper-ends of the upper course of wall units 36 and 33 are secured by joint disposed anchors 38 to an eave angle 46 as best indicated in Fig. 1, the said eave angle 46 having a nailer 47 bolted thereto over which the usual flashing and drip strip 43 is se- "cured. Roofing '69 layed over cement roof tile or the like 56 supported on the cave beams 43 and purlins 42 extends under the said flashing and drip strip .8 as indicated in Fig. '1. The usual flashing 5! and 52 is preferably employed at the head and sills of the steel sash'53, and the lambs at the said steel sash 53, may be flashed 'with suitable jamb flashing 54 as indicated in Fig. 14 or with such means as a weather stop '55 extending into the mastic filled joint groove 56 of the wall unit 3!] as shown in Figs. 3 and 15.

"Obviously other details and arrangements of supporting structural framing 36 may be used, the framing shown in the drawings and described herein being intended to be illustrative of structural wall framing which those skilled in the art may employ to provide support and anchorage for wall units embodying the invention. Wherever the structural framing 36 makes it difiicult or impossible to employ joint disposed anchorages 38, a wall unit 300 may be used, which is precisely like the wall unit 36 except that in V the wall unit 366 inserts 51 are cast in each corner thereof to accommodate an anchorage 39 indicated at the upper right hand corner of the wall unit 360 as viewed in Fig. 2.

The typical wall unit 30 shown in Fig. 4 is preferably formed rectangular in shape of a cementitious material such as concrete or Haydite and is provided with a W-shaped joint groove 56 around all four sides thereof, which groove may be described as trough shaped having a bottom higher at the center thereof than at its sides forming two spaced relatively deep furrows 58 and 59 with a central ridge 6i] therebetween.

. the outer surface thereof. When the wall units weight without material loss of strength. The

dot and dash lines 63 in Fig. 4 indicate the man- .i ner in which the wall unit 36 may be paneled out at the rear thereof to save weight.

v Wall units 3i and '32 and corner wall units 33, 34 and 35 are preferably precast with like and similar joint grooves 56 and reinforcement 6! and 62, and, if desired paneled out at their rear to economize on material and conserve weight.

The joint disposed anchorage means 38 preferably formed of cast metal as shown in Figs. 6, '12, 14 and 16, with which an L-shaped resilient washer 64 and a nut 65 are used, comprises an elongated diamond shaped head 66 having a threaded stem 61 projecting centrally therefrom normal to the transverse axis of the said diamond shaped head 66, the said anchorage means 38 having a longitudinally disposed web 68 cast integrally therewith extending from its diamond shaped head 66, the said anchorage means 38 having a longitudinally disposed web 68 cast integrally therewith extending from its diamond shaped head 66 to the threaded stem 6'1 thereof, all as'best shown in Figs. 6 and 14. The slope of the diamond shaped head 66 of the joint disposed anchorage means 38 preferably conforms sheet metal joint disposed anchorage means 386 comprises a diamond shaped sheet metal strip 16 formed around a diamond head threaded bolt 1| disposed through 'a suitable aperture 12 punched centrally in the metal blank from Which the said diamond shaped sheet metal strip is formed. The said diamond shaped metal strip 10 which forms an extension of the head 13 of the diamond headed bolt H is left open at 14 along the ridge thereof opposite the ridge through which the stem of the bolt 1| projects whereby to permit the said diamond shaped sheet metal strip 16 to be somewhat resilient whereby to enable it to conform to any irregularities that may occur in the alignment of the sides 69 of the W-shaped joint grooves 56 of the wall units 30 to 35 inclusive due to warping of the units per se or due to any slight misalignment of the said wall units during erection. As in the case of the cast metal joint disposed anchorage means 38 shown in Fig. 5, L-shaped resilient washers 64 and units 65 are preferably employed with the sheet metal anchorage means 380 shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 shows in detail a preferred form of resilient metal joint strip 15 employed in the completely flexible partially mastic filled joint 31. The said resilient metal joint strip- 15 is generally U-shaped in cross sections having a central rib 16 extending centrally outward from. the base of the U dividing it into halves 1'! at each side of the said rib 16 which are sloped to conform to the shape of the sides 69 of the W-shaped joint grooves 56 of the wall units 30 to 35 inclusive when the said resilient joint strip 15 is properly positioned as indicated in Fig. 8 in a joint 31 between the typical wall units 36. The said joint strip 15 is provided with laterally outwardly disposed flanges !8 which become positioned in the rear furrows 59 of the said wall units 30 to 35 inclusive when the said joint strip 15 is properly positioned as indicated in Fig. 8 in a joint 31 between the typical wall units 30.

The metal from which the said joint strips 15 are formed is preferably spring bronze, brass or the like which will retain its resiliency, which will not rust, and which will conform readily to the various configurations necessary to the use of completely flexible partially mastic filled joints embodying the invention during warping, contraction and expansion of the wall units 30 to 35 inclusive or during the contraction, expansion and settlement of their supporting structure 36.

The resilient metal joint strips 15 are preferably coped as indicated by the numeral 19 in Fig. 13 where horizontal joints 3! between wall units intersect or meet vertical joints 3'! therebetween.

Although the resilient joint strip I5 is preferably of resilient metal, obviously, resilient plastic material or the like may be substituted therefor.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 8, two typical wall units 30 are shown juxtaposed in their normal erected position with a completely flexible combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 3'! therebetween. The said completely flexible joint 31 embodying the invention comprises a resilient joint strip 15 having its central rib 16 positioned between the outer juxtaposed edges of the wall units 36 and, having the flanges 18 thereof disposed in the rear furrows 59 of the joint grooves 56 of the said juxtaposed wall units 30, and a mastic filler 8D in the joint grooves 56 of the said wall units 30 between the said resilient joint strip 15 and the base of the said joint grooves 56. It will be noted that the completely flexible combined resilient metal and mastic joint 31 is only partially filled with mastic 80, the said mastic being retained by the said resilient joint strip 15 in the joint grooves 56 except for minor flow around the rib 16 and around the ends of the flanges 18 of the resilient joint strip 15 which is desirable rather than harmful.

Inasmuch as the joint 31 is not completely filled with mastic 80, the said mastic 80 cannot be forced out therefrom under conditions of maximum expansion of the wall units 30 to 35 inclusive or under conditions of the expansion or settlement of their supporting structure 36. The resilient metal joint strip 15 is of sufiicient strength to serve as a retainer for the said mastic filling 80 to prevent the bulk of the said mastic 80 from leaking out from or running down the said joint 31 if and when it becomes sufliciently plastic to flow under combined conditions of expansion and relatively high temperatures encountered by building walls during summer seasons or in warm climates.

Fig. 9 shows the approximate position taken by the resilient joint strip 15 and the mastic 80 retained thereby when two juxtaposed wall units 30 become warped with respect to each other. Fig. 10 shows the approximate position taken by the resilient joint strip 15 and the mastic 86 retained thereby when two juxtaposed wall units 30 become spread apart as a result of contraction of the wall units 30, contraction of their supporting structure 36, and/or by settlement of the said supporting structure 36.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 10 that when extreme separation of the wall units 30 takes place, air bubbles 8| form in the mastic filling 80. When the joint 3'! again closes any air bubbles 8| that may have formed disappear and any mastic 80 that ran into the joint 310 between the outer juxtaposed edges of the wall units 36 is drawn back into the joint 31 between the base of the said joint grooves 56 and the resilient metal joint strip 15, this being dueto the re-forming of the resilient metal joint strip from the position taken in Fig. 10 to the normal position thereof as shown in Fig. 8. When the joint 3'! gives in any direction as, for example, when the joint 31 becomes distorted due to warping of the wall units 30 as indicated in Fig. 10, the resilient metal joint strip 15 retains the mastic 86 in the joint grooves 56 and, because the resilient metal strip 15 and mastic 80 provide a tight weatherproof expansion and contraction joint under all reasonable conditions and without the necessity of filling the joint completely with mastic, mastic 80 is not pressed out of the joints 3') between the outer juxtaposed edges of the wall units 30 at the front of the joints3l embodying the invention.

Figs. 11 and 12 indicate a preferred method of buttering the joint grooves 56 of wall units 30 and how typical wall units 30 are erected to provide the combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joints 3'! therebetween. Fig. 11 indicates how joint grooves 56 of wall units 30 to 35 inclusive illustrating the invention are buttered with a non-hardening mastic cement 86, it being important to use considerably less than one-half the amount of mastic 80 in each joint groove 56 than would be required to completely fill the joint 31. As soon as both the erected wall unit 30a and the wall units 3llb to be erected in juxtaposition thereto shown in Fig. 12 have had their opposite joint grooves 56 buttered as indicated in Fig. 11, a resilient metal joint strip 15 is placed therein with a more or less plying motion to position the edge of the left hand flange 18 of the joint strip 75 as viewed in Fig. 12 into the rear furrow 59 of the said joint groove 56 and at the same time sweep the majority of the mastic 80 forward of the said furrow 59.

ities to hold the said anchorage means -66 in its proper position in the joint groove 55 with the threaded stem 61 thereof positioned in a suitable notch 82 provided in the rear side portion of the wall units 30 to 35 inclusive. The rib E6 of the resilient metal joint strip 75 is then preferably buttered with mastic as indicated by the numeral 83 in Fig. 12. The mastic 80, resilient metal joint strip 15, and anchorages 38, if joint disposed anchorages are employed, are now fixed to the already erected wall unit 30a which is then ready to have juxtaposed thereto another wall unit 30 b.

The wall unit 3 lb is then urged into juxtaposition with respect to the wallunit 30a and the resilient metal joint strip 15 in such a manner as to entrap the great majority of the mastic Bil in the joint groove 56 of the wall unit 30-h between the metal joint strip 15 and the base of the said joint groove 55, see Fig. 12, the wall units 3fla and 3fi b taking the position with respect to each other shown in Fig. 8. After erection of the wall units 36 to 35 inclusive, the joints 370 between the outer juxtaposed edges of the said wall units are struck clean of mastic to a depth slightly forward of the rib 76 of the resilient U-shaped metal joint strip 15. Although but one illustrative method of erection of wall units embodying the invention and the forming of combined resilient metal and partially filled mastic joints 3'! between the wall units has been disclosed and described in detail, obviously those skilled in the building trades may employ other methods for erection of wall units and for forming combined resilient metal and partially filled mastic joints embodying the invention;

When used, the joint disposed anchorages 38 have a resilient L-shaped washer employed in connection therewith which engages the back of stem of the joint disposed anchorage 38 draws the juxtaposed corners or edges of the wall units 30 against a structural member 36 as indicated in Fig. 14 or against a girt 43 as indicated in Fig. 16. The resiliency of the L-shaped washer 54 ispreferably sufiicient'to permit it to give sl ghtly and the area of contact of the L-shaped washer 64 on the structural member 36 is sufficiently small to admit of movement between the wall units 30 to 35inclusive and the structural members 36 which support the said wall units or to which the said wall units'are anchored; therefore, not only can the wall units 30 to 35 With respect to to the members of unit wall construction disstrip 88 has a central closed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that wall units 30 to 35 inclusive have had substituted therefor wall units 300, 3H], 33!] and 349 which have cast therein at each corner thereof and facing the rear thereof an insert 84, which, together with a resilient anchor disposed-anchorage means 39.

Fig. 15 shows a typical corner disposed anchorage 39 including an insert 84 cast in the corner of the wall unit 300, a resilient anchor 85 positioned over the structural member 36, and a stud 86 telescoped through the said resilient anchor 85 and threaded into the insert 84 sufficiently to-draw the said wall unit 300 firmly against the structural member 36. It Will be noted that thereis only a relatively small area of contact between the resilient anchor 85 and the structural member 36 whereby to admit of creeping of the wall unit 300 with respect to the ners of four wall units 360 anchored by corner disposed anchorage means 39 to a girl; 43.

The employment of corner disposed anchorage means 39 in place of joint disposed anchorage means 38 or 389 does freedom of movement of the wall units with reof the supporting structure and movement of the said wall units with respect thereto. I

Fig; 21 discloses a modified form 8'1 of the combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 31 shown in Fig. 8 and hereinbefore described in detail. and partially mastic filled joint 87 resilient generally U-shaped metal joint strip '88 and formed with a substantially flat bottom 92, and a curved front side 93 The said resilient metal U-shaped joint rib 94 extending centrally outward from the base of the U dividing the same not alter or change the 880 in Fig. 21 indicate the laterally extended shape of the said resilient metal U-shaped joint strip 88 before positioning in the resilient metal and partially filled mastic joint 81.

Mastic 80' is entrapped between the said resilient metal joint strip 88 and the base 92 .of the joint grooves 89 as indicated in-Fig. 21 when the said joint grooves 89 are suitably buttered with mastic 80 and when the resilient metal joint strip 88 is properly positioned in the joint grooves 89 of juxtaposed wall units 90 as indicated in Fig. 21; the central rib 94 of the said resilient metal joint strip 88 being positioned in the joint 810 between the outer juxtaposed edges of the wall units 90 is preferably struck clean of mastic to a depth slightly forward of the rib 94 of the joint strip 88. The resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 81 disclosed in Fig. 21 functions in a like and similar manner to the operation of the resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 31 disclosed in Fig. 8, both joints admitting of complete freedom of movement between juxtaposed wall units embodying the invention.

Fig. 22 discloses another modified form 91 of the combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joints 31 and 81 shown in Figs. 8 and 21 and hereinbefore described in detail. Fig. 22, the resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 91 comprises a resilient generally U-shaped metal joint strip 98 formed except for the outwardly curved sides I06 thereof to conform generally with the shape of the joint grooves 99 formed in the periphery of wall units I00. The said wall units I00 are similar to the typical wall units 30 and 90, and the joint grooves 99 thereof are formed with a deeply sloping rear side H, a substantially flat bottom I02, and a deeply sloping front side I03. The said resilient metal U- shaped joint strip 98 has a central rib I04 extending centrally outward from the base of the U dividing the same into sloping halves I05 which conform generally to the shape of the front sides I03 of said joint grooves 99. The resilient joint strip 98 is provided with outwardly curved sides or flanges I06 the outer edge of each of which becomes positioned in the re-entrant corner I01 between the deeply sloping rear side WI and the bottom I92 of opposite joint groove 91 of wall units I00 when juxtaposed. 980 in Fig. 22 indicates the laterally extended shape of the said resilient metal U-shaped joint strip 98 before positioning in the resilient metal and partially filled mastic joint 91.

Mastic 80 is entrapped between the said resilient metal joint strip 98 and the base I02 of the joint grooves 99 as indicated in Fig. 22 when the said joint grooves 99 are suitably buttered with mastic 80 and when the resilient metal joint strip 98 is properly positioned in the joint grooves 99 of juxtaposed wall units I00 as indicated in Fig. 22; the central rib I04 of the said resilient metal joint strip 98 being postioned in the joint 910 between the outer juxtaposed edges of the wall units I00. juxtaposed edges of the wall units I00 is preferably struck clean of mastic to a depth slightly forward of the rib I04 of the joint strip 98. The resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 91 disclosed in Fig. 22 functions in a like and similar manner to the operation of the resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 31 disclosed in Fig. 8, both joints admitting of complete freedom of movement between juxtaposed wall units embodying the invention.

Dot and dash line The said joint 910 between the outer Figs. 23 and 24 disclose a sheet metal Wall unit H0 having continuous sides III around the periphery thereof, each side III being formed to provide a w-shaped joint groove 56. If the wall units IIO are formed of extremely light sheet metal, strap braces II2 may be welded to the rear of the sides III and to the back hereof substantiallyas shown in the drawings. The said braces II2 prevent misalignment of the sides II I and the joint grooves 56 during shipment and handling of the wall units H0. The face of the wall units IIO may be finished in any desired manner known in the art, and the rear portion thereof may be filled with insulation or sound deadening material if desired. A combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 31 as indicated in Fig, 24 is disposed between two juxtaposed metal wall units IIO.

Figs. 25 and 26 disclose sheet metal wall units I20 and I30 respectively having continuous sides I2I and I3I respectively formed around their peripheries, each of the said sides being formed to provide joint grooves 89 and 99 respectively. Strap braces I22 and I32 may be employed to maintain alignment of the sides I2I and I3I oi the wall units I20 and I30.respectively in the event they are constructed of extremely thin metal. A combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 81 is shown between juxtaposed sheet metal wall units I20 in' Fig. 25, and a combined resilient metal and partially mastic filled joint 91 is shown between juxtaposed sheet metal wall units I30 in Fig. 26. The face of the wall units I20 and I30 may be finished in any desired manner known in the art, and the rear portion thereof may be filled with insulation or sound deadening material if desired.

It will be noted that, in each of the various forms of joints between juxtaposed wall units disclosed herein, opposed joint grooves in the periphery of the said juxtaposed wall units cooperate to form a joint cavity inwardly disposed from the front and rear of the said wall units, the joint cavity having less non-hardenable mastic cement therein than required to fill the same. The resilient joint strips employed span across and seal the joint between juxtaposed wall units and,. at the same time, entrap and hold the mastic in the joint grooves of the said juxtaposed wall units. Having less than enough mastic therein to fill it, the joint cavity can contract and expand while the juxtaposed wall units move in any. and all directions with respect to each other due to expansion, contraction or settlement of their supporting structure or due to warpage of the wall units per se, all without opening up the joints therebetween and without forcing the mastic out from between juxtaposed wall units. Thus, the invention provides a universally and flexibly sealed waterproof and weatherproof pre-cast or preformed unit wall construction.

Inasmuch as many changes and alterations can be made in the size, shape, detail and arrangement of the elements of the hereinabove described construction and since many widely different embodiments of the invention could be had without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A building wall construction of type supported on structural framing comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units each having a re-entrant groove around the periphery thereof, means securing said wall units to their structural supporting members in juxtaposition with respect to each other with their re-entrant grooves opposed, two oppositely disposed and juxtaposed grooves forming a joint, a non-hardenable mastic cement disposed in said grooves partially filling said joint, and expansible resilient strip means floating within said joint sealing said joint and entrapping said mastic in said grooves whereby to form a weatherproof resilient joint between juxtaposed units and prevent said mastic from being urged out from said joint during movement of one wall unit with respect to another, the said resilient strip means having a portion traversing the joint closely adjacent the side of the wall unit grooves nearest the weather surface of the wall, a portion spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, and

flanges extending into the bottom of the Wall unit grooves.

2. A building wall construction of the type supported on structural'framing comprising, in

combination, a plurality of preformed wall units each having a re-entrant groove around the periphery thereof, two oppositely disposed and juxtaposed grooves forming a joint, a non-hardening mastic cement disposed in said grooves partially filling said joint, expansible resilient strip means floating in said joint sealing said joint and entrapping said mastic in said grooves whereby to form a weatherproof resilient joint between juxtaposed units and prevent said mastic from being urged out from said joint during movement of one wall unit with respect to another, and anchorage means disposed in said joint engaging juxtaposed wall units securing said wall units to said structural framing in a manner to admit of movement therebetween, the said resilient strip means having a portion traversing the joint closely adjacent theside of the wall unit grooves nearest the weather surface of the wall, a portion spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, and flanges extend ing into the bottom of the wall unit grooves.

3. A building wall construction of the type supported on structural framing comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units each having a re-entrant groove around the periphery thereof, two oppositely disposed and juxtaposed grooves forming a joint, a non-hardening mastic cement disposed in said grooves partially filling said joint, expansible resilient strip means floatingly disposed in said joint sealing said joint and entrapping said mastic in said grooves whereby to form a weatherproof resilient joint between juxtaposed units and prevent said I mastic from being urged out from said joint during movement of one wall unit with respect to another, and anchorage means at the corners of each wall unit securing said wall units to said structural framing in a manner to admit of movement therebetween, the said resilient strip means having a portion traversing the joint closely adjacent the side of the wall unit grooves nearest the weather surface of the wall, a portion spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, and flanges extending into the bottom of the wall unit grooves.

4. In a joint between juxtaposed preformed wall units each having a re-entrant groove around the periphery thereof, less non-hardenable mastic cement'in each groove than required to fill the same, and expansible resilient strip means floating withinsaid joint disposed between the said juxtaposed wall units sealing said joint and entrapping said mastic cement in opposite grooves of the said wall units, said resilient strip means yielding withsaid mastic during movement of the said juxtaposed wall units with re- 7 spect to each other, the said resilient strip means having a portion traversing the joint closely adjacent the side of the wall unit grooves nearest the weather surface of the wall, a portion spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, and flanges extending into'the bottom of the wall unit grooves.

5. In a joint between juxtaposed preformed wall units each having a reentrant groove around the periphery thereof, less non-hardenable mastic cement in each groove than required to fill the same, and expansible resilient strip means floating in said joint disposed between the said juxtaposed wall units sealing said joint and entrapping said mastic cement in opposite grooves of the said wall units, said resilient strip means yielding with said mastic during movement of the said juxtaposed wall units with respect to each other, said resilient strip means having a rib disposed between said wall units forwardly of said grooves maintaining said resilient strip means substantially symmetrical in said joint during movement of said juxtaposed wall units with respect to each other, the said resilient strip means having a portion traversing the joint closely adjacent the side of the wall unit grooves nearest the weather surface of the wall, a portion spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, and flanges extending into the bottom of the wall unit grooves.

6. In a joint between juxtaposed wall units of the type having a re-entrant groove in at least one side thereof and wherein oppositely disposed grooves in said juxtaposed wall'units form a joint cavity, less non-hardenable mastic in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, and expansible resilient sealing strip means floating within said joint cavity and disposed across the joint between juxtaposed wall units entrapping said mastic and urging the same in said grooves whereby to prevent leakage of said mastic from said joint, the said resilient strip means having a portion traversing the joint closely adjacent the side of the wall unit grooves nearest the weather surface of the wall, a portion spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, and flanges extending into the bottom of the wall unit grooves.

'7. In a joint between juxtaposed wall units of the type having a re-entrant groove in at least one side thereof and wherein oppositely disposed grooves in said juxtaposed'wall units form a joint cavity, 'less non-hardenable mastic in said joint cavity than required tofill the same, expansible resilient sealing strip means floatingly disposed in said joint cavity and across the joint between juxtaposed wall units entrapping said mastic and urging the same in said grooves whereby to prevent leakage of mastic fromsaid joint, and a centrally disposed rib on said resilient sealing strip means extending into the joint between juxtaposed wall units forward of the grooves in the sides thereof which maintains said'resilient sealing strip means substantially central with respect to said joint, the said resilient strip means having a portion traversing the joint closely adjacent the side of the wall unit grooves nearest the weather surface of the wall, a portion spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, and

flanges extending into the bottom of the wall unit grooves.

8. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units frictionally secured to said structural frame, each wall unit having a groove around the periphery thereof, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositely disposed forming a joint cavity, less non-hardenable mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U-shaped resilient metal joint strip floating in said joint cavity, laterally disposed flanges on the open side of the said IU-shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom and engaging the base of opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, a portion of said resilient U- shaped joint strip traversing the joint between juxtaposed wall units closely adjacent the side of the wall nearest its weather surface, and portions of said resilient U-shaped joint strip spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, the said U-shaped joint strip entrapping said mastic cement in said grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units.

9. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units each having a groove around the periphery thereof, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositelydisposed forming a joint cavity, less nonhardenable mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U- shaped resilient metal joint strip floating in said joint cavity, laterally disposed flanges on the open side of the said U-shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom and engaging the base of opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, a portion of said resilient U- shaped joint strip traversing the joint between juxtaposed wall units closely adjacent the side of the wall nearest its weather surface, and por tions of said resilient U-shaped joint strip spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, the said U-shaped joint strip entrapping said mastic cement in said grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units, and means securing said wall units in juxtaposition to each other on said structural framing admitting of movement therebetween during expansion, contraction and settlement of the supporting structure.

10. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units frictionally secured. to said structural frame, each wall unit having a groove around the periphery thereof, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositely disposed forming a joint cavity, less non-hardenable mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U-shaped resilient metal joint strip floating in said joint cavity having a rib extending centrally outward from the closed side thereof dividing it into halves, said ribbeing positioned between juxtaposed wall units forward of the.

peripheral grooves therein, laterally disposed flanges on the open side of the said resilientU- shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom and engaging the base of opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, a portion of said resilient U-shaped joint strip traversing the joint between juxtaposed wall units closely adjacent the side of the wall nearest its weather surface, and portions of said resilient U-shaped joint strip spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, the said resilient U-shaped joint strip entrapping the said mastic cement in said grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units.

11. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units each having a groove around the periphery thereof, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositely disposed forming a joint cavity, less non-hardenable mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U- shaped resilient metal joint strip floating in said joint cavity having a rib extending centrally outward from the closed side thereof dividing it into halves, said rib being positioned between juxtaposed wall units forward of the peripheral grooves therein, laterally disposed flanges on the open side of the said resilient U-shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom and engaging the base of opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, a portion of said resilient U- shaped joint strip traversing the joint between juxtaposed wall units closely adjacent the side of the wall nearest its weather surface, and portions of said resilient U-shaped joint strip spaced from the bottom of the wall unit grooves, the said resilient U-shaped joint strip entrapping said mastic cement in said grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units, and means securing said wall units in juxtaposition to each other on said structural framing admitting of movement therebetween during expansion, contraction and settlement of the supporting structure.

12. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units frictionally secured to said structural frame, each having a groove around the periphery thereof, each groove being trough shaped with its bottom higher at the center than at the sides thereof forming spaced furrows with a ridge therebetween, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositely disposed and forming a joint cavity, less non-hardenab-le mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U-shaped resilient metal joint strip in said joint cavity, laterally disposed flanges at the open side of the said resilient U-shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom into the rear furrows of opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, the said resilient U-shaped joint strip entrapping said mastic cement in' said trough shaped grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units, the flanges of the said resilient U-shaped joint strip being tensioned against the said juxtaposed wall units at the bottom of the said rear furrows of opposite peripheral grooves thereof.

13. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units each having a groove around the periphery thereof, each groove being trough shaped with its bottom higher at the center than at the sides thereof forming spaced furrows with a ridge therebetween, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositely disposed and forming a joint cavity, less non-hardenable mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U-shaped resilient metal joint strip in said joint cavity a portion of which traverses the joint between the wall units near the weather surface thereof, laterally disposed flanges at the open side of the said resilient U-shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom into the rear furrows of opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, the said resilient U- shaped joint strip entrapping said mastic cement in said trough shaped grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units, the flanges of the said resilient U-shaped joint strip being tensioned against the said juxtaposed wall units at the bottom of the said rear furrows of opposite peripheral grooves thereof, and means securing said wall units in juxtaposition to each other on said structural framing admitting of movement therebetween during expansion, contraction and settlement of the supporting structure.

14. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units frictionally secured to said structural frame, each wall unit having a groove around the periphery thereof, each groove being trough shaped with its bottom higher at the center than at the sides thereof forming spaced furrows with a ridge therebetween, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositely disposed and forming a joint cavity, less non-hardening mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U-shaped resilient metal joint strip in said joint cavity having a rib extending centrally outward from the closed side thereof dividing it into halves, said rib being positioned in the joint between juxtaposed wall units forward of the peripheral grooves therein, laterally disposed flanges at the open side of the said resilient U- shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom into the rear furrows of the opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, the said resilient U-shaped joint strip entrapping said mastic cement in said trough shaped grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units, the flanges of the said resilient U- shaped joint strip being tensioned against the said juxtaposed wall units at the bottom of the said rear furrows of opposite peripheral grooves thereof. 7 7

15. Building wall construction of the type supported on a structural frame comprising, in combination, a plurality of preformed wall units each having a groove around the periphery thereof, each groove being trough shaped With its bottom higher at the center than at the sides thereof forming spaced furrows with a ridge therebetween, said grooves in juxtaposed wall units being oppositely disposed and forming a joint cavity, less non-hardenable mastic cement in said joint cavity than required to fill the same, a generally U-shaped resilient metal joint strip in said joint cavity a portion of which traverses the joint betweenthe wall units near the weather surface thereof, said U-shaped joint strip having a rib extending centrally outward from the closed side thereof dividing it into halves, said rib being positioned in the joint between juxtaposed wall units forward of the peripheral grooves therein, laterally disposed flanges at the open side of the said resilient U-shaped joint strip extending outwardly therefrom into the rear furrows of the opposite peripheral grooves in said juxtaposed wall units, the said resilient U-shaped joint strip entrapping said mastic cement in said trough shaped grooves simultaneously with sealing the joint between said wall units, the flanges of the said resilient U-shaped joint strip being tensioned against the said juxtaposed wall units at the bottom of the said rear furrows of opposite peripheral grooves thereof, and means securing said wall units in juxtaposition to each other on said structural framing admitting of movement therebetween during expansion, contraction and settlement of the supporting structure.

JOHN SCHURMAN. 

